I have recently agreed to step up as chair for the Trail Promotion committee, which involves every aspect that would promote the trail (newsletter, website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Trail Talk), hiking/backpacking events, etc.) and would like to solicit a few volunteers who are BTA members in good standing and who have a passion for getting ideas together and then seeing those ideas come to life.

We need to think of ways to get the word about the Buckeye Trail to the masses as well as increasing membership in the BTA by holding events, having cool items for folks to buy, etc.

Per my email please count me in as a member of the Trail Promotion Committee. I would like to help.

The Buckeye Trail needs more backpackers! If we can keep the Buckeye Trail maintained and open and get more backpackers on it I think a lot of the current issues can be solved. For example ...

More Hikers = More members for the BTA.More Hikers = More donations.More Hikers = More folks to help maintain the trail.More Hikers = More defined footpath in remote areas of the BT.More Hikers = More campsites will be found / developed.

I suggest running an advertisement in the Appalachian Trail Journeys magazine which is sent out quarterly to ATC members. The ad would read "You have hiked the A.T. now come hike the B.T.".

Love it, Cap'n, you and I are on the same page. I am a firm believer in getting more hiker friendly events sponsored by the BTA and using parts of the BT on those hikes to "show off" the trail. The more folks that come out means the more folks that the join the BTA, then more folks volunteer to lead events, work on the trail, and take on other roles. It's all about getting hikers on the trails (of course the trails have to be in good shape, which is why I spent five hours working on trails Sunday with some of my hiking group friends getting it ready for the Fort Ancient area hike on the 25th, and seeing what work to be done before the SpringFest next April).

Hey Darryl, I have a couple of ideas that you may or may not want to consider for your endeavors. #1. You could get together some photos of some of the scenic or historic sites along the BT and compile a calendar to sell. (this is a very common fund raising practice, so not really my idea) #2. You could organize some volunteers to be out on the busy bike path sections of the BT to set up little lemonade stand type sites to sell bottled water to thirsty bikers/hikers, although, I am not 100% sure about the legality aspects of that. Like I said, just a couple ideas to kick around.

That's true, Pioneer, I lived around here for quite a while before I knew of the BT. You guys could try putting some brochures in the motel lobbies in high tourism areas like this one (Kings Island)...as well as putting some in the canoe liveries and the zip line depot. Also, the Visitors Bureaus of the counties and towns, if they have them. Most of these places around here like Morrow, Loveland, etc; would love a few more tourists coming to their areas

I know the Geocaching and letter boxing community is aware of the BT. I walked on quite a bit of the BT looking up letterboxes a few years before I decided to hike the entire trail. I always wondered what was over the next hill.

The Ouachita Trail has a monthly "where in the blue blazes" photo contest.http://www.friendsot.org/blue_blazes~We could form a group called "Bears" and chase people along the trail .. might make national news if they don't dig too deep. BEARS chase family having a picnic on the Buckeye Trail!!!